Originally Posted by
GriddleCakes
Your judgement is entirely subjective, and weighted heavily in favor of defending your own actions. Cognitive distraction is not a subjective experience, but a function of how our minds work while we attempt to process multiple stimuli. No one is aware of how distracted they are until they crash.
The argument you level is the same used to justify drinking and driving: I use my personal judgement to determine whether or not I'm capable of driving.
The fact that there are fools everywhere doesn't excuse someone who should know better from acting like a fool.
If you really need to take a call, pull over. Your phone has caller ID, stop your car and call back. There is no more of a legitimate excuse for dialing and driving than for eating and driving or masturbating and driving. Please pay less attention to your phone and more to the road.
This debate is covered adequately elsewhere in these forums. Meanwhile, I suggest you heed the prevailing wisdom of the masses and refrain from riding in this dangerous winter season where icy roads, darkness, and snow berms could distract you. (Thank goodness no self-respecting cyclist ever listens to their ipods either!)